Chickens in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka had 18.7 million chickens in 2024, the 97th largest in the world (0.07% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 13%. The record was 24.3 million head in 2021.
- Animals, 2024
- 18.7 million head
- World rank
- 97 of 179
- 10-year change
- +13%
- Record
- 24.3 million head
- 2021
Chickens in Sri Lanka, 1961–2024 (head)
Sri Lanka compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.07%
- 0.08% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +13%
- world +31%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | DR Congo | 19,092,000 | 0.07% |
| 96 | Benin | 19,049,000 | 0.07% |
| 97 | Sri Lanka | 18,716,000 | 0.07% |
| 98 | Zimbabwe | 18,096,000 | 0.07% |
| 99 | Norway | 16,579,000 | 0.06% |
Map of chickens numbers by country
Share of the world total; Sri Lanka is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18,716,000 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 18,065,000 | −21% |
| 2022 | 22,767,000 | −6.4% |
| 2021 | 24,311,000 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 24,278,000 | +19% |
| 2019 | 20,411,000 | −0.6% |
| 2018 | 20,531,000 | −3.5% |
| 2017 | 21,276,000 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 21,056,000 | +26% |
| 2015 | 16,744,000 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 16,630,000 | −0.1% |
| 2013 | 16,646,000 | +19% |
| 2012 | 14,038,000 | −1.1% |
| 2011 | 14,199,000 | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 14,018,000 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 13,615,000 | −5.0% |
| 2008 | 14,331,000 | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 13,779,000 | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 13,313,000 | +14% |
| 2005 | 11,636,000 | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 11,042,000 | +13% |
| 2003 | 9,774,000 | −15% |
| 2002 | 11,564,000 | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 10,655,000 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 10,622,000 | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 9,923,000 | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 9,566,000 | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 9,243,000 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 9,136,000 | −3.9% |
| 1995 | 9,504,000 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 9,466,000 | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 9,261,000 | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 8,746,000 | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 8,261,000 | −6.1% |
| 1990 | 8,796,000 | −0.4% |
| 1989 | 8,833,000 | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 8,645,000 | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 8,588,000 | +12% |
| 1986 | 7,637,000 | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 7,098,000 | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 6,614,000 | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 6,457,000 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 6,249,000 | −0.7% |
| 1981 | 6,296,000 | −0.7% |
| 1980 | 6,341,000 | +7.8% |
| 1979 | 5,882,000 | +20% |
| 1978 | 4,912,000 | −16% |
| 1977 | 5,833,000 | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 5,700,000 | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 5,685,000 | −13% |
| 1974 | 6,521,000 | −13% |
| 1973 | 7,528,000 | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 7,227,000 | −4.8% |
| 1971 | 7,593,000 | +11% |
| 1970 | 6,856,000 | +4.2% |
| 1969 | 6,578,000 | −2.5% |
| 1968 | 6,748,000 | +7.9% |
| 1967 | 6,256,000 | −3.8% |
| 1966 | 6,500,000 | +6.7% |
| 1965 | 6,090,000 | −3.0% |
| 1964 | 6,279,000 | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 6,129,000 | +63% |
| 1962 | 3,765,000 | −2.0% |
| 1961 | 3,841,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many chickens are there in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka had 18.7 million chickens in 2024, 0.07% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Sri Lanka rank in the world by number of chickens?
Sri Lanka ranked 97th of 179 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in China with 18.9% of the world total.
How has the number of chickens in Sri Lanka changed?
It rose by 13% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +31% for the world. The record was 24.3 million head in 2021.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.